Lord Krishna was born when Ashtami and Star Rohini come together during Krishna Paksha. Usually, Star Rohini does not fall on Ashtami Day of Krishna Paksha. South Indians perform Janmashtami during Star Rohini. North Indians look out for Ashtami Day. This time the constellations have come together exactly as it was when Lord Krishna was born. Yoga Maya was also born on the same day at Yashoda’s home. Janmashtami 2018 fell on Monday and Mangala Gauri came on Tuesday. In the last post, we have already mentioned how to perform Janmashtami pooja.
Janmashtami 2018:
We celebrated the birth of not only Lord Krishna but also Yoga Maya. So, we worshipped Lord Krishna as well as Jagadamba and Mangala Gauri at the same altar. Also, Krishna Paksha Ashtami Day belongs to Kala Bhairava and Batuk Bhairava. We worshipped these Gods also with small photos at the same altar. Bhairava is actually Lord Shiva. So, we worshipped Lord Shiva also on this day. We have also installed our traditional Vishnu Pada, Shankha, Shalagrama, Gomati Chakra and Laghu Shankha. We chanted Vishnu Sahasranama, Vishnu Sahasranamavali, Krishnaashtotra, Krishnaashtotrashatanamavali, Madhurashtakam, Gajendra Moksha and Vaasudeva Mantra all through the day.
Some people completed pooja of Lord Krishna on Sunday night itself. But, since Ashtami and Rohini Star came only after 8.30 PM, we celebrated the birth of Lord Krishna on the next morning like most Vaishnavites.